Intraoral device with mesh

ABSTRACT

A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation and claims the prioritybenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/100,323 filed Dec. 9,2013, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/734,939 filed Dec. 7, 2012, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of dentalmouthpieces. More specifically, the present invention relates tointraoral dental suction and isolation mouthpieces.

2. Description of Related Art

Various mouthpieces are currently used by dental health professionals,dental hygienists, and dental assistants in the field of dentistry. Inthe past, a dental patient has been treated by a traditional two-personteam that comprises a dental professional and a dental assistant.Further, dental treatment may be provided by the team using manydifferent types of dental equipment and materials. Such dental equipmentand materials may include such items as an intraoral mirror, a biteblock, a slow speed suction ejector, a high speed suction ejector,gauzes, cotton rolls, and dry angles. Each item of dental equipment maybe used for different purposes, though some may be used in combinationfor some types of dental services. As such, a dental professionalseeking to provide such dental services may need to use multiple itemsof such dental equipment. An important role of the dental assistant istherefore to assist the dental professional in coordinating the use ofthese multiple items of different equipment and materials.

There is, therefore, a need in the art for improved systems and methodsof providing dental services in a more efficient, comfortable, and safemanner to the dental patient.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may include a mouthpiece that maybe attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose ofassisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side,hands-free suction, and isolation. Such a mouthpiece may comprise a mainbody portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connectorportion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractorportion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may bemolded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplaryembodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible,translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, andautoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because themouthpiece may be made of a high heat-resistant and autoclavablematerial, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

The main body portion may comprise an enclosed pocket made up of ananterior wall, a posterior wall, and a side wall in between the anteriorand posterior walls. The side wall may be perforated with a plurality ofperforations. Such perforations may constitute a mesh. Additionalperforations may be located on the anterior and posterior walls. Themain body portion may further include a slit along a longitudinal,central axis on the anterior wall. Such openings (e.g., perforations andslit) allow for suction of air, fluids, and small debris from thepatient's mouth, through the openings into the interior portion, andinto the suction connector portion towards a suction source. Because themouthpiece is made of a flexible and resilient material (e.g.,silicone), the mouthpiece may be bent when placed in a patient's mouthto conform to the shape of the mouth. When properly positioned, thesuction connector portion may protrude from one side of the patient'smouth, while the main body lies against the back of the patient's mouth,and the cheek retractor presses against the patient's cheek on theopposite side of the patient's mouth.

The main body may further include an protruding bridge structure on theinterior surface of the posterior wall. Such a bridge structure mayprotrude from the interior surface in a wave shape with crests andtroughs. The crests provide a plurality of contact points with theanterior wall to keep the anterior wall separated from the posteriorwall during suction. Meanwhile, the troughs provide gaps that allow forsuction of air, fluids, and small debris through the bridge structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary mouthpiece with adetachable mouth prop.

FIG. 1B is a top view of the exemplary mouthpiece and detachable mouthprop of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the exemplary mouthpiece and detachablemouth prop of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a side view of the exemplary mouthpiece and detachable mouthprop of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary mouthpiece anddetachable mouth prop of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the exemplary mouthpiece of FIG. 1Awhere the detachable mouth prop has been detached.

FIG. 2B is a top view of the exemplary mouthpiece of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the exemplary mouthpiece of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is a side view of the exemplary mouthpiece of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2E is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary mouthpiece of FIG.2A.

FIG. 3A is a front view of an exemplary mouth prop.

FIG. 3B is a back view of the exemplary mouth prop of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the exemplary mouth prop of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of the exemplary mouth prop of FIG. 3A .

FIG. 3E is a side view of the exemplary mouth prop of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3F is a top view of the exemplary mouth prop of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of exemplary mesh sides in an exemplarymouthpiece.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of an internal bridge in an exemplarymouthpiece.

FIG. 6A is a close-up view of an exemplary reinforcing bar in anexemplary mouthpiece.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary reinforcing bar ofFIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a close-up view of an exemplary cheek retractor portion in anexemplary mouthpiece.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary cheek retractorportion of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a mouthpiece comprisinga main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connectorportion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractorportion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may bemolded as one-piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplaryembodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible,translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, andautoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because themouthpiece may be made of a high heat-resistant and autoclavablematerial, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.

FIGS. 1A-E are different views of an exemplary mouthpiece with anattachable mouth prop 160, while FIGS. 2A-E are different views of theexemplary mouthpiece of FIG. 1A where the attachable mouth prop 160 hasbeen detached. Such a mouthpiece may include a main body portion 110, asuction connector portion 120, and a cheek retractor portion 130.

The main body portion 110 may include mesh or perforations 140, astability bar 150, an open slit 170, and an internal bridge 180. Themain body potion 110 may connect to a suction connector portion 120 onone end and a cheek retractor portion 130 at the other end. Such a cheekretractor portion 130 may be configured to press against and retract apatient's cheek away from the patient's teeth. When placed in apatient's mouth, the suction connector portion 120 may protrude from oneside of the patient's mouth, while the main body portion 110 liesagainst the back of the patient's mouth, and the cheek retractor portion130 retracts the patient's cheek on the opposite side of the patient'smouth. The flexibility of the material used to form the mouthpieceallows for some bending when placed in the patient's mouth. The materialis, however, resilient enough that the cheek retractor portion pressesagainst the inside of the patient's cheek with such pressure beingsufficient to move the cheek away from the patient's teeth.

An exemplary main body portion 110, when placed in a mouth, may includean anterior wall facing the front of the mouth (e.g., the side with slit170) and a posterior wall facing the back of the mouth. The two wallsmay connect at a superior wall and an inferior wall forming a body thatis at least partially enclosed.

Superior may be used herein to refer to the side that rests against aroof of a patient's mouth when placed therein, and inferior may be usedto refer to the side that rests against the floor of the patient'smouth. The superior and inferior sides may be formed identically, whichmay allow for the mouthpiece to change orientation such that thesuperior side may appear as the inferior side and vice versa, in the neworientation. When in use, the respective sides of the main body portion110 may serve to protect and separate the top of the mouth and thebottom of the mouth/tongue. In addition, the main body portion 110 mayalso serve to protect the back of the mouth (e.g., throat and airway)from falling debris.

Much of the main body portion 110 of the mouthpiece may be shaped as astraight-line arrowhead or shield whose base generally conforms to theintraoral shape of a patient's mouth. Differently-sized mouthpieces maybe provided for differently-sized mouths of adults and children. Part ofthe base side of the arrowhead may be formed with thicker walls than therest of the main body. Such thickening may provide additional stability.

In addition, the main body portion 110 of the mouthpiece may include aplurality of holes 140 distributed along the superior and inferior sidesof the anterior and posterior walls to assist in suctioning of water,saliva and debris from the oral cavity. In some embodiments, a set ofholes may also form a mesh along the walls of the superior and inferioredges. FIG. 4 is a close-up view of an exemplary mesh wall in anexemplary mouthpiece.

At the narrow end of the arrowhead that connects to the cheek retractorportion 130, the main body portion 110 may include a rectangularportion. Narrower than the base of the arrowhead, the rectangle mayadditionally include a reinforcing bar (or stability bar) 150 (describedin further detail below) and may be at least partially crossed by a slit170 (described in further detail below) into the interior of the pocketof the main body portion 110.

Stability bar 150 may be a protrusion or otherwise a thickened area thatreinforces the stability of the rectangular portion and assist inshaping this region to the intraoral posterior shape of a patient'smouth. FIG. 6A is a close-up view of an exemplary stability bar 150 ofan exemplary mouthpiece. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of theexemplary reinforcing bar in the cheek retractor connector portion ofFIG. 6A.

In some embodiments, the internal, rectangular-shaped reinforcing orstability bar 150 may be located distally to the internal wavelikebridge structure 180 and attached to both the interior side of theposterior surface of the main body and the rectangular portion. Such astability bar 150 may be located in the area where a positionedmouthpiece begins to wrap from the lingual side of the most posteriormandibular tooth, around the distal side of the most posterior tooth,and to anterior side of the most posterior mandibular tooth, therebyassisting in shaping the mouthpiece to the general intraoral shape of apatient's mouth.

Various embodiments of the mouthpiece may further include alongitudinal, open slit 170 extending over approximately two-thirds ofthe main body on the anterior surface. Running along the center of themain body across the rectangle and most of the arrowhead, such a slit170 may assist in capture and suction of water, saliva and debris, aswell as assisting in cleaning and maintenance.

Additionally, the main body of the mouthpiece may include a bridgestructure 180 on an interior surface to ensure that the anterior andposterior surfaces remain separated during suction. FIG. 1E is across-sectional view of the mouthpiece in which the bridge structure 180is illustrated. FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the bridge structure 180without the surrounding walls of the main body portion. Such a bridgestructure 180 may be formed as an wave-like protrusion that generallycorresponds to the distance between the anterior and posterior wallsextending substantially (e.g., within 1 mm) the full distance at itscrest and substantially flush to the surface at its trough. In someembodiments, the bridge structure 180 may be centrally-located in themain body portion 110 of the mouthpiece. The gaps (or troughs) betweenthe waves of the bridge structure 180 assist in the suction-driventransfer of water and saliva to the suction connector portion 120 andultimately, into a central suction vacuum. In some embodiments, thebridge structure 180 may follow the shape of a logo (e.g., an arrowheador shield).

The suction connector portion 120 may be oval-shaped and also attachedto the main body portion 110. The suction connector portion 120 may beformed with thicker walls than the main body portion 110 and configuredto attach to a high-suction vacuum adapter and to assist in transferringwater, saliva, and debris from the oral cavity to the external adapterfor removal. The suction connector portion 120 may also include aninternal stop to assist in sliding the mouthpiece onto the adapter to adesired depth. The suction connector portion 120 may additionally havean external, concave, notched region 210 that corresponds to a removablestrap such that when the strap is in place, the external walls of thestrap and the rest of the connector portion may be flush.

The cheek retractor portion 130 is illustrated as a hammerhead distalregion, which may be attached to the main body portion 110. FIG. 7A is aclose-up view of an exemplary cheek retractor portion 130 in anexemplary mouthpiece. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the exemplarycheek retractor portion 130 of FIG. 7A.

The mouthpiece may be used with a mouth prop 160, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 (with a mouth prop 160) and FIGS. 2 (illustrated without themouth prop 160). FIGS. 3A-E provide different close-up views of anexemplary mouth prop 160. The removable strap 310 may be attached tomouth prop 160, which may be used to prop open a patient's mouth andteeth. In this regard, the suction connector portion 120 mayadditionally have an external plug 220 (FIG. 2C) protruding from theposterior side of the suction connector portion 120. Such a plug 220 maycorrespond to and serve to connect with an opening in the mouth prop160. The mouth prop 160 may be reinforced by the presence of the plug220 in the opening, thereby resulting in a more crush-resistant, nearlyincompressible, and stable mouth prop 160. In some embodiments, thesuction connector portion 120 may further have a cutout 230 (e.g., whichmay be shaped as a logo) providing extra interlocking with acorresponding protrusion (e.g., which may also be shaped as a logo) onan external high-suction vacuum adapter.

The mouth prop 160 may be made of thickened silicone material injectionmolded in a single piece with an elastic strap corresponding to thecircumference of the suction connector portion. The mouth prop 160 hasan internal, rectangular-shaped female slot designed to fit snugly withthe external, rectangular-shaped male plug 220 of the suction connectorportion 120 of the mouthpiece. Mouth props may be made in differentsizes for differently sized mouths. Because the mouth prop andmouthpiece are detachable from each other, different sizes of each maybe mixed and matched as needed for a particular patient's mouth.

The mouthpiece as described herein may be used with a one-piece,autoclavable, high-suction vacuum adapter. Such a high-suction vacuumbody adapter may be made of a single homogenous material. Having asingle lever design, such a vacuum adapter may function in the samemanner as all the current high-suction vacuum evacuators and salivaejectors in controlling the removal of water, saliva, and debris fromthe oral cavity to the outside vacuum source. The single lever may bedesigned to control the removal of water, saliva, and debris from the atleast partially enclosed so main body through a single, large evacuationconduit within the suction connector portion.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. The descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the particular forms set forth herein. Thus, the breadthand scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that theabove description is illustrative and not restrictive. To the contrary,the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives,modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and otherwiseappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of theinvention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but instead should be determined with reference tothe appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dental mouthpiece comprising: a main bodyportion, configured as a pocket having a plurality of perforations incommunication with an interior open space, the pocket having a first endthat is narrower than a second end, the pocket is defined by: a firstwall having a shape defined by an exterior edge, wherein the first wallincludes an opening to the interior open space of the pocket, a secondwall having a shape corresponding to the defined shape of the firstwall, wherein an exterior edge of the second wall shape corresponds tothe exterior edge of the first wall, and a side wall connecting theexterior edge of the first wall to the corresponding edge of the secondwall; the second wall comprising a bridge structure that includes aplurality of protrusions integral with and protruding from an interiorsurface of the second wall and extending a span between the first walland the second wall, wherein the bridge structure is not attached to thefirst wall, wherein the plurality of protrusions of the bridge structureprotrude from the interior surface of the second wall in a wave shapecomprising one or more crests and one or more troughs and wherein thespan between the first and the second wall is less than a width of thefirst and the second wall, wherein a shape of the interior open space ofthe pocket spans between the defined shape of the first wall and thecorresponding shape of the second wall, and the pocket including atransition portion at the first end and that flexibly connects to acheek retractor, wherein the plurality of perforations comprise one ormore perforations at the transition portion.
 2. The dental mouthpiece ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of perforations are spaced to comprise amesh.
 3. The dental mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofperforations further comprise one or more perforations in the secondwall.
 4. The dental mouthpiece of claim 3, wherein the one or moreperforations on the second wall are spaced to comprise a mesh.
 5. Thedental mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein an opening from the first wall ofthe main body portion to the pocket includes a slit along a longitudinalaxis of the main body.
 6. The dental mouthpiece of claim 1, furthercomprising a suction connector that connects to the interior open spaceof the pocket, the suction connector configured to connect to a vacuumsource that provides suction of fluids through one or more of theplurality of the perforations of the pocket into the interior open spaceof the pocket towards the suction connector.
 7. The dental mouthpiece ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions of the bridge structurecollectively provide spaced contact points that keep the first wallseparated from the second wall during suction.
 8. The dental mouthpieceof claim 7, wherein spaces between the plurality of protrusions of thebridge structure allow fluids within the interior open space of thepocket to be drawn therethrough towards a vacuum source that providessuction.
 9. The dental mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the cheekretractor has a surface that applies pressure when the dental mouthpieceis bent, wherein the pressure is based on resilience of a material fromwhich the cheek retractor is formed.
 10. The dental mouthpiece of claim9, further comprising a stability bar protruding from the interiorsurface of the second wall along a longitudinal axis of the main bodyand extending through at least part of the cheek retractor, wherein athickness of the stability bar corresponds to resilience by which thecheek retractor portion applies pressure during bending.
 11. The dentalmouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the main body portion is formed byinjection-molding as one piece.
 12. The dental mouthpiece of claim 1,wherein a material from which the main body is formed is a flexible,translucent, high heat-resistant, autoclavable silicone-based material.13. The dental mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein the first wall of the mainbody portion and the second wall of the main body portion have differentthicknesses.
 14. The dental mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising amouth prop, the mouth prop is injection-molded in one piece.
 15. Thedental mouthpiece of claim 14 wherein the mouth prop comprises a biteblock portion that includes an opening corresponding to a plug connectedto the main body.
 16. A dental mouthpiece comprising: a cheek retractor;a main body portion having a first end connected to the cheek retractor,the main body portion configured as a pocket having a plurality ofperforations in communication with an interior open space, the pocket isdefined by: a first wall having a shape defined by an exterior edge,wherein the first wall includes an opening to the interior open space ofthe pocket, a second wall having a shape corresponding to the definedshape of the first wall, wherein an exterior edge of the second wallshape corresponds to the exterior edge of the first wall, and a sidewall connecting the exterior edge of the first wall to the correspondingedge of the second wall; the second wall comprising a bridge structurethat includes a plurality of protrusions integral with and protrudingfrom an interior surface of the second wall and extending a span betweenthe first wall and the second wall, wherein the bridge structure is notattached to the first wall, wherein the plurality of protrusions of thebridge structure protrude from the interior surface of the second wallin a wave shape comprising one or more crests and one or more troughs;the pocket including a transition portion at the first end that flexiblyconnects to the cheek retractor; a suction connector portion connectedto a second end of the main body portion, the suction connectorconfigured to connect a vacuum source to the interior open space of thepocket within the main body portion.
 17. The dental mouthpiece of claim16, wherein the plurality of perforations further comprise one or moreperforations in the first wall.
 18. The dental mouthpiece of claim 17,wherein the one or more perforations on the first wall are spaced tocomprise a mesh.
 19. A dental mouthpiece comprising: a main body portionconfigured as a pocket at least partially enclosing an interior space,the pocket defined by: a first wall that includes one or moreperforations in communication with the interior space of the pocket, thefirst wall having a shape defined by one or more edges along one or moresides; a second wall having a shape that corresponds to the shape of thefirst wall, the shape of the second wall defined by one or morecorresponding edges along one or more corresponding sides, wherein thesecond wall includes a bridge structure that includes a plurality ofprotrusions integral with and protruding from an interior surface of thesecond wall within the interior space of the pocket, wherein theprotrusions of the bridge structure protrude from the interior surfaceof the second wall toward the first wall in a wave shape comprising oneor more crests and one or more troughs, and a connecting wall thatconnects the one or more edges of the first wall to the one or morecorresponding edges of the second wall across a span between the firstwall and the second wall; a suction connector portion connected to afirst end of the main body portion, the suction connector configured toconnect a vacuum source to the interior space of the pocket; and a cheekretractor connected to a second end of the main body portion, whereinthe second end is opposite the first end of the main body portion.